Knockdown couch-hammock.



'I. E. PALMER..

KNOUKDOWN OOUOH HAMMOOK.

nrmcrnon FILED um. 10, 1910.

980,1 67. Patented Dee, 27, 1910."

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I. E. PALMER. KNOOKDOWN COUCH HAMMOOK.

APPLICATION nun JAN. 10, 1910.

980,167, Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

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witnesses Inventor:

5mg .6 Isaac E.Palmer I. B. PALMER.

KNOGKDOWN COUCH HAMMOGK.

APPLICATION FILED J'AN.10, 1910.

980, 1 67. Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

5 SHEETS-"SHEET 4.

I I nven/tor [I Iaac E-Palmer '1. E. PALMER. KNOUKDOWN DOUGH HAMMOOK.

APPLICATION IILEDJLN. 10, 1910.

Patented .Dec. 27, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Invantor lisaac 15'. Palmer fl wjw witnesses 6mm?? wyflhw/w J attys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC E. PALMER, 0F MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE I. E. PALMER 00., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

KNOCKDOWN COUCH-HAMMOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Isaac E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Knockdown Couch-Hammocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to knock down couch hammocks, and it may be employed on couch hammocks of the type illustrated in my Patents No. 574,073, December 29, 1896, and No. 901,936, October 20, 1908, in the socalled Gloucester type of hammock, and in fact in all suspended or hammock couches.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed certain types or embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a knock down frame particularly intended for use in hammocks of the type shown in my said patents; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of said frame and showing a portion of the hammock body applied thereto; Fig. 3 is a detail in plan of one corner of said frame; a portion of the corner bracket being broken away to show the knock down construction; Fig. 4; is a detail in elevation looking outwardly, of one corner of an end member and bracket from which the side member has been withdrawn; Fig. 5 is an edge view of one of the corner brackets and parts permanently connected thereto; Fig. 6 isa detail in plan of one corner of a knock down frame, to which is applied a slightly modified form of bracket; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. (3 with a portion of the bracket broken away to show the knock down construction; Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken upon the line 88 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a knock down frame particularly intended for use in connection with the so-called Gloucester type of hammock; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section upon the line 10-1O in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a sectional detail of one corner of the frame shown in Fig. 9 and taken upon the line 1111 of said figure; Fig. 12 is a detail upon enlarged scale of one corner of the frame shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a cross section of a couch hammock which may be Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 10, 1910.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Serial No. 537,270.

of the general type shown in my said patents or any other suitable type and showing means for securing the lateral edges of the seating to the frame. Fig. 14 is a similar view representing another manner of securing the lateral edges of a seating or hammock body to a frame; the couch hammock here shown may be of any suitable type; Fig. 15 is a plan view of a knock down frame having applied thereto a hammock body provided with separate end pieces and showing one manner of attaching the central and end hammock pieces to said frame; Figs.

16, 17 and 18 are cross sectional views representing hammock frames of a knock down type showin different methods for securing the lateral or ges of the hammock body thereto; Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view of a couch hammock of the general type shown in my said patents or of the type having separate end pieces but provided with upstanding lateral edges, the frame being of a knock down construction; Fig. 20 is a similar view of a somewhat modified construction; Fig. 21 is a detail in cross section showing a modified form of means for detachably securing the side edges of the hammock to a frame; Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 17 but showing a mattress secured to and forming a part of the hammock body; Fig. 23 is a side elevation of a knock down hammock frame showing one manner of secmring the separate end pieces of the hammock body thereto, the main or central portion of the hammock body being partially illustrated; Fig. 24 is an end elevation of the hammock body and frame shown in F 23; Fig. 25 is a side elevation of a knock down hammock having an applied canopy; Fig. 26 is a vertical cross section of the couch hammock shown in Fig. 25; Fig. 27 is a detail of one corner of the canopy or cover shown in Figs. 25 and 26; Fig. 28 is a detail in vertical longitudinal section taken through one of the end members of the hammock shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 29 is a plan view of a knock down couch hammock embodying my invention; Fig. 30 is a vertical, longitudinal section thereof upon the line 30-30 of Fi 29; F ig. 31 is a transverse, vertical section thereof upon the line 3131 of Fig. 29; Fig. 32 is a vertical, sectional detail representing a slightly different means of detachably securing the hammock body'to the end members of the frame; Figs. 33 and 3a are views in transverse or longitudinal section of couch hammock frames showing slightly different means for adjustably securing the hammock body to the frame; Figs. 35 and 36 are inside and outside views of 'one corner of a hammock provided with upstanding edges and representing the said edges as laced to the adjacent cornerbracket.

Couch hammocks now upon the market are provided with frames composed of side and end members, the hammock body being applied to the frame in the manner shown in my said patents or as in the Gloucester type, or as in that type of hammock wherein the end or supporting portions of the hammock body are separate from the portion overlying the frame. So far as I am aware, a hammock frame of these or other types has never been made of a knock down construction; that is to say, of a construction permitting the ready detachment after assembling of the transverse and longitudinal members of the frame for purposes of storage or transportation. I have devised a knock down hammock frame, the transverse and longitudinal members whereof may be readily disassembled or taken apart without the use of tools, and which is cheaper and better than hammock frames having permanently connected parts.

My invention may be embodied in couch hammocks wherein the lateral edges of the hammock body are free from, that is, where they merely rest upon the side members of the frame, or in couch hammocks wherein the said lateral edges are secured in suitable manner to said side members. If, however, the hammock body is continuous, it is not in this type of my invention permanently secured to the transverse members of the frame, but is so related thereto as not to prevent the frame from being knocked down or readily disassembled.

In Figs. 1 to S inclusive, I have shown a couch hammock frame of the general type disclosed in my said Patents No. 574,07 3 and No. 901,936, said frame herein consisting of side members 11 and end members 22. To one of said sets of members, and preferably to the end members 2, are secured preferably by nails or screws, corner brackets or members 3-3 having extensions 4 socketed to receive cross rods 5 which may be held by dowel pins as indicated at 6, or otherwise preferably permanently in position. In this manner, each end member 2 with its pair of corner brackets 3 and cross rods 4. makes in effect a single or unitary structure, as most clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and a. The side members 11 are received by said end structures of the frame in a suitable manner affording a knock-down construction. One type of this knock down construction is shown in said Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, wherein I have shown what may be generally termed an interlocking construction of said side and end members. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the meeting edges of the members 1 and 2 are tenoned as indicated at 7 so as to present a substantially stepped or angular construction permitting the ready sliding of the side members 1 into engagement with the end members 2 and their housing within the brackets 3. This interlocking or other knock down engagement may be of a tenoned, dovetailed, mortised or other formation of sufficient looseness of parts to permit the ready disassembling. The structure illustrated, however, whlle permitting the ready disassembling is yet so firm as to hold the frame in true rectangular form without distortion.

It will be observed that the interlocking portions of the end of the members 1 and 2 are of the same thickness, thus giving great strength. The brackets 3-3 inclose or house the interlocking or interengaging ends of the side and end members and guide the side members 1 as they are slid into position. It will be observed that the side and end members are separated by movement of the parts longitudinally of the frame. It will be further observed that the knock down frame shown in Fig. 1 is composed in effect of but four parts, namely, the two side members 11 and the two end structures each composed of an end member 2, the brackets 3-3 secured thereto and the cross bar 5 secured in said brackets.

The knock down frame shown in Fig. 1 may be provided with any suitable seating of cloth, rope or spring formation, such seating being preferably not attached to or readily detachable from the end members 2-2, so as not to interfere with the ready disassembling of the frame. If a flexible wire seating having end springs be provided, the end springs are preferably so connected as to be readily detachable from the end members 2-2, thereby not interfering with the knock down construction of the frame.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, I have shown a slightly modified form of corner bracket and one wherein the cross rod 8 is positioned beneath the frame instead of as in Fig 2. For this purpose, each bracket is provided with an extension 9 having a socket or bearing for said rod 8 below the end piece 2. While in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive the sockets of the brackets 3 completely surround the cross rods 5, in the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 8 the socket is open, but the cross rods are held in position by the hammock body 10. Dowel pins or the like may be employed to prevent lateral displacement of said cross rods. In this type of my invention, the knock down feature is preserved and is of the same character as that previously described.

In Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, I have shown a knock down frame composed of side members l1-11 and end members 1212, the meeting ends whereof may be interengaged in any suitable manner affording ready detachment. Preferably, however, I mortise said members, as indicated most clearly at 13 and 14 (Fig. 11), and in addition longitudinally slot one of them, as for instance the side member 11, as indicated at 15 in Fig. 10. In said slot and an alining hole in the end member 12, I provide bolts 16 having wing nuts 17 and heads 18. Preferably and particularly if the frame be intended for use in the so-called Gloucester type of hammock, I provide corner brackets 19 of the general type shown in my Patent No. 944,814, December 28, 1909, said corner brackets being positioned by the respective bolts 16. The hammock body is indicated at 20 as passing under the frame and provided with upstanding sides 21 as disclosed in said patent. A suitable mattress may be placed upon the upper face of the frame, and in addition the latter may be provided with a seating of the types referred to in the description of Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive. It will be apparent that the frame members may be readily detached by movement longitudinally of the frame after loosening the wing nuts 17.

In Fig. 13, I have indicated in cross section a hammock frame of the general knock down, construction shown in any of the preceding figures, and have in said figure indicated that the frame may be provided with a cloth seating secured to the outer edges of the lateral members of the frame. The said side members are indicated at 2222 and the cloth seating at 23, the latter being wrapped about supporting strips 2 1, which are secured in suitable manner to the outer edges of said side members 22. Preferably the supporting strips are detachably and adjustably secured, as by means of readily removable pins 25 engaging either one of a series of holes 26, thus permitting the taking of slack or change of tension of said seating 23. The hammock body is indicated at 27 as overlying the seating and provided with valanees 28. Between the seating and the hammock body may be provided a mattress or wadding 29 which may be secured if desired to the hammock body. It is apparent that the lateral edges of the seating 23 may be secured to any other face of the side members 22.

In Fig. 14, I have indicated in cross section a frame also of the general knock down type shown in the preceding figures, the side members being indicated at'30-30. I have indicated at 31 a seating or an overlying hammock body, the lateral edges whereof are wrapped about supporting strips 32 secured preferably detachably and ad ustably by pins 33 to said side members. The member 3.1, if it be the hammock body, may pass under cross rods to the points of support in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, or the hammock there shown may be of the general type indicated in Patent No. 942,259, December 7, 1909, in which case, as indicated in Fig. 15, the central or main portion of the hammock body 31 preferably terminates at the inner edges of the end members 31 so as to permit the frame to be knocked down or disassembled in the manner already described. In such case, the end or supporting portions of the hammock body are separate from the main portion 31 thereof and are indicated at 35 as secured to the detachable end members 34. by supporting strips 36 sufficiently encircled by said end hammock members 35 and secured to said end frame members 3+1: by pins or otherwise (see Fig. 28). Said pins are secured only to said end members 34: of the frame, and hence do not render the frame any less detachable than in the preceding types of my invention. If desired, the corner brackets 19 may be employed. It is apparent that instead of the particular means for detachably connecting the side and end members shown in Fig. 15, any other suitable means may be employed. If in Fig. 14 the part 31 be merely a seatin then the frame may be employed in any suitable type of hammocks, as for instance the so-called Gloucester type.

In Figs. 16, 17 and 18, I have indicated in cross section hammock frames of the general knock down construction shown in the preceding figures, the hammock being preferably of the general type shown in said Patent No. 942,259, and have indicated that the lateral edges of the hammock body may be secured to the side members 37 in any suitable manner. For example, in Fig. 16, said late 'al edges are wrapped about supporting strips 38, which by adjustable pins 39 are detachably and adjustably secured to the outer edges of said members. In Fig. 17, the supporting strips 40 are adjustably and detachably secured to the under face of said side members by pins 41, and in Fig. 18 the supporting strips 42 are partially encircled by the lateral edges of the hanunock body. I provide a suitable number of b ackets 13 secured by screws 4-4 to said supporting strips and adjustably secure said brackets by screws 45 passing through plates 40 secured to the inner edges of said sliding members 37.. Any other suitable means may be employed to secure in a preferably detachable and adjustable manner the lateral edges of the hammock body to the side members of the frame. As previously stated, the hammock shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 is preferably of that type having a central or main hammock body portion 17 attached to the side members, but not to the end members so as thereby to permit the ready disassembling of the side and end members of the frame. The separate end members of the hammock body only are secured to said end members.

In Fig. 19, I have indicated in cross section a somewhat different type of hammock, yet one in which the frame is of the con structions previously disclosed. In said figure, theside members are indicated at 48 48 and the hammock body at 49. This hammock body may be of the type shown in Fig. 2, and therefore of the type shown in my Patents No. 574,073 and No. 901,936, or it may be of the general type indicated in Fig. 15, or indeed of any type in which the main portion of the hammock body overlies the frame. The lateral edges of the hammock body are, however, so connected or related to the side members 48 of the frame as to occupy an upstanding position, as in dicated at 50. To secure this result, I preferably provide supporting strips 51 adjustably and detachably secured by pins 52 to the outer edges of said side members 48 and pass the hammock body in the manner shown between said side members and said strips, and thence around the latter. The ends of the said upstanding edges 50 may be secured to the end portions of the hammock body by lacing or otherwise, as indicated in my said Patent No. 944,814, December 28, 1909. In this case, a mattress may be placed upon the hammock body between the upstanding edges 50. Preferably, I provide in this connection corner brackets of the general type shown in said Patent No. 944,814. The supporting strips 51 are in this figure as well as in preceding figures, secured only to the side members of the frame, and do not in any way interfere with the knock down characteristic of the hammock. It is apparent that if desired the hammock shown in Figs. 15 to 19 may be provided with any suitable seating, preferably, however, not connected or at least detachably connected to the end members of the frame.

In Fig. 20, I have represented a slightly modified construction wherein metallic sup porting rods 53 are provided, held in place by staples 54.

In Fig. 21, I have represented a slightly modified means for detachably connecting a seating or the hammock body to the side member 55 of a knock down frame of the general type already described. The seating or hammock body is indicated at 56 and is provided with a suitable number of eyes 57 to be engaged by hooks or pointed members 58.

In Fig. 22, I have indicated a hammock frame of the general knock down type previously described, the side members indicated at 5959.

The hammock body 60 is preferably of the type shown in Fig. 2, but may be of that type shown in Fig. 15, its lateral edges being adjustably and detachably secured by supporting strips 61 and pin 62, Valances 63 being employed if desired. The hammock body 60 forms one face of a mattress, the other face whereof is indicated at 64 as suitably connected thereto at 65. The mattress filling is indicated at 66. The side and end members of the frame are secured in the manner already described in connection with Figs. 1 to 12 inclusive and the knock-down characteristic is not impaired by the mat tress construction.

In Figs. 23 and 24, I have indicated in side and end elevation a hammock of that general type shown in Patent No. 942,259, but have preserved the knock down characteristic previously described. The overlying or main portion of the hammock body is indicated at 66. The separate or end hammock members 67 are secured to the readily detachable end members 68 only, by means of angle irons 69 and screws 70 penetrating said end members 68 as more clearly indicated in Fig. 24. The knock down characteristic may be imparted by providing any of the means already described, or any other suitable means for detachably securing the end members 68 and side members 71 of the frame.

By the foregoing description, I have intended clearly to set forth the fact that my knock down hammock frame may be utilized in connection with any type of couch hammock or other suspended structure, it not being limited to those types herein represented.

In Figs. 25, 26 and 27, I have shown a couch hammock preferably of the knock down type and particularly intended for camping purposes. The hammock is provided with a cover or canopy that may be readily applied thereto, and the members of which may be so manipulated as to completely inclose the user to protect him from storms or to be opened up at other times. In said figures, the side and end members of the hammock frame are indicated at 7273, they being secured in the manner already described to afford a knock down construction. If desired, a seating 74 may be employed and be secured to the side members 72 by supportingstrips 75 and pins 76. The overlying hammock body is indicated at 77 and its upstanding ends at 78, the latter having the usual spreaders and supporting cords 79. If desired, I may provide a back rest or wind shield 80 formed with or extending upward from the hammock body, or of the general type shown in my Patent No. 921,623. The canopy or cover 81 is a sheet of some such material as canvas or rubber cloth, and at its ends is provided with cords or lacing 82 or other suitable means to secure it to the hammock body and prefthe cords 79 by lacing 8-1 or otherwise.

Preferably, the said flaps are secured to the cords 7 9 so as to be supported in an inclined position to drain off water that might otherwise fall upon the cover 81. Preferably, each of the flaps 83 is provided with lacing 84, so that either flap may be separately secured above the cover, and the other be turned downwardly to shield the user.

In Fig. 29, I have shown in plan view a knock down couch hammock of the general type represented in Fig. 15 but disclosing a simplified knock down connection between the side and end members of the frame. In Fig. 15, I have shown bolts with nuts for holding in position the recessed meeting ends of said members and have represented the portion 31 of the hammock body as not overlying the end members. In Fig. 29, on the other hand, I have represented the main or middle portion 85 of the hammock body as extended over and beneath the end members of the frame and there detachably secured. In Figs. 29 and 30, the side members 86 and end members 87 are suitably recessed, as for example in substantially the manner indicated in Fig. 11, excepting thatno slot or hole is provided for a bolt. The meeting ends of the side and end members are not secured together in any manner, but are merely retained in position by the hammock body 85 itself, which is represented in Fig. 30 as continued down and positioned beneath the end members 87 as indicated at 88 in Fig. 30. Each end 88 of the hammock body 85 may be detachably secured in any suitable manner to the end members 87 as by a supporting strip in a pocket of said end 88 of the middle portion of the hammock body. Preferably, however, I secure the ends of the central portion of the hammock body in position by the same supporting strip that attaches the end port-ions 89 of the hammock body to the frame. In Fig. 30, each separate or supporting end 89 of the hammock body is represented as provided with a pocket 90, within which is po-. sitioned a supporting strip 91 secured to the hammock body in such manner as to permit it to be readily detachable therefrom, so as to provide a knock down construction of frame. In this type of the invention I have represented screws 92 passing through the pockets 90, the strips 91, the ends 88 of the hammock body and into the end members 87 of the frame. Said screws 92 preferably do not penetrate the side members 86, but are secured only to the end members.

In Fig. 32, I have represented a slightly different form of means for detachably securing the parts of the hammock frame together and consisting of adjustable pins 93 penetrating the pockets, the supporting strips and the ends of the hammock body. The lateral edges of the hammock body 85 may be secured to the side members 86 in any suitable manner. In Fig. 31, I have represented supporting strips 91 at the outer edges of said side members and there held in position by adjustable pins 95. It is, of course, apparent that said supporting strips may be at any other face or edge of the side members and there held in any suitable manner.

It will be apparent that the construction shown in Figs. 29 to 31, as well as that indicated in Fig. 32, is a readily detachable or knock down construction, inasmuch as by simply removing the screws 92 or the pins 93 not only are the hammock ends 89 removed from the hammock frame, but the end members 87 of the hammock frame are left without any connection whatever with the side members. It is apparent that I may additionally employ bolts with nuts at the meeting ends of the side and end members, but in this form of the invention such construction is unnecessary. The construction shown in Figs. 29 to 31 presents one of the simplest forms of knock down couch hammock herein disclosed.

In Figs. 33 and 341, I have represented a slightly different form of means for detachably and adjustably securing the supporting strips to either the side or end members of the hammock frame. I11 Fig. 33, the side or end members of the frame are indicated at 96 and the hammock body at 97. The opposite edges or ends of the hammock body may be extended beneath the frame as indicated at 98 to form pockets to receive the supporting strips 99 having elongated threaded sockets 100. To the inner faces of the members 96 are secured plates 101 perforated for the passage of screws 102 passing directly into the supporting strips 99. The threaded sockets 100 are of such depth as to permit the lateral shifting of the supporting strips 99, so that slack may be taken up or the tension of the seating or hammock body may be changed.

In Fig. 34:, I have shown a slightly differ ent construction in that the screws 103 pass from the outer edge of the supporting strips 99 directly therethrough and are threaded into the plates 104;. The hammock body 97 is suitably perforated for access to the heads of the screws 103.

In Figs. 35 and 36,.I have represented corner brackets 105 of the general type shown in my Patent No. 944,814, December 28, 1909, and have shown means for securing the upstanding edges 106 of the hammock body thereto. It is, of course, apparent that these corner brackets may be employed in any type of hammock having upstanding edges. The adjacent edges of the side and end members are provided with gromets 107. The corner brackets 105 are provided with holes 108 at their lower ends and notches 109 at their upper ends. Cords 110 are suitably laced through said gromets and through the hole 108 and notch 109, so as to secure the meeting ends of the upstanding edges of the hammock body directly to said corner brackets. The cords may first be laced through the lower gromets 107, then passed therethrough a second time and through the hole 108 in the corner bracket, then upwardly into the notch 109 and then into the upper gromets 107, after which the ends are tied together. Certain constructions herein illustrated and described are not claimed herein, but in a separate application.

Within the scope of my invention, the side and end members of any of the described or other types of hammocks may be readily detachable in any suitable manner constituting a knock down construction. If desired, corner brackets or members may be provided preferably permanently connected to either the side or end members and receiving and supporting the adjacent members in such manner as to render the frame a knock down one. Such construction may be utilized in any type of hammock, such for eXam ple as those herein disclosed. In such cases, interlocking formations of the meeting ends of the side and end members need not be employed. v

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

1. A couch hammock comprising in combination a knock-down frame therefor consisting of side and end members having flat upper faces and having oppositely recessed, superposed, meeting ends whereof the overlying ends are in the general plane of the upper surface of said frame, one of said ends having an open ended, short, longitudinal slot and the other having a bolt hole, hammock positioning corner brackets upstanding from the corners formed by said meeting ends and each having a single web provided with a bolt hole and applied fiatwise to said frame at said meeting ends, bolts passing through said slots and holes and nuts thereon securing the parts together, but permitting the detachment of said members merely upon loosening said nuts and without removal of said bolts, said frame being adapted to resist the strain incident to hammock suspension in use, and a hammock body applied to said frame, and suspension means therefor.

'2. A couch hammock comprising in combination a knock-down frame therefor consisting of side and end members having oppositely recessed meeting ends, said side members terminating in substantially the vertical line of the outer edges of said end members, said side and end members having their upper faces flat and in substantially the same plane, hammock positioning corner brackets upstanding from the corners formed by the meeting ends of said members and having webs applied flatwise to one face only of the frame, bolt-s passing through said webs and meeting ends, thereby clamping them together, said bolts having heads terminating substantially flush with the lower face of said side and end members, and a hammock body applied to said frame and suspension means therefor.

A couch hammock comprising in combination a knock-down frame therefor consisting of side and end members having oppositely recessed meeting ends, said side members terminating substantially in the vertical plane of the outer edges of said end members, said side and end members having their upper faces in substantially the same plane and one of each pair of meeting ends having a short, longitudinal assembling slot, hammock positioning corner brackets upstanding from the meeting ends of said members and each having a single web applied flatwise to the frame at said meeting ends, bolts passing through said webs, memberends and slots, thereby adjustably clamping the said parts together, said bolts having heads terminating substantially flush with the lower faces of said side and end members, a hammock body applied to said frame and suspension means therefor.

l. A couch hammock comprising in combination a knock-down frame therefor consisting of side and end members having flat upper and lower faces and having oppositely recessed meeting ends, one of each pair of meeting ends having an open ended, short, assembling, longitudinal slot and the other having a bolt hole, bolts passing through said holes and slots, nuts upon said bolts, the parts being detachable merely upon loosening said nuts, said bolts having heads terminating substantially flush with the lower faces of said side and end members, said side members terminating in substantially the vertical plane of the outer edges of the end members, a hammock body applied to said frame, and suspension means therefor.

5. A couch hammock comprising in combination a knock-down frame therefor having side and end members with flat upper faces and oppositely recessed, superposed, meet-ing ends, the ends of said side members not extending beyond the plane of the outer edges of said end members, hammock positioning brackets upstanding from the said meeting ends, and means for securing said brackets to said meeting ends, said securing means terminating substantially flush with the lower faces of said members and constituting means for connecting together but permitting the ready detachment of said side and end members, a hammock body applied to said frame and suspension means therefor.

6 A couch hammock comprising a frame composed of side and end members, hammock positioning brackets secured to the corners of said frame and having perforated portions extending above the upper face of said frame, a hammock body applied to the lower face of said frame and having upstanding sides and suspension ends, and corner lacing joining the adjacent edges of said hammock body sides and ends and passing through said perforations, thereby securing the hammock body to the frame.

7. A couch hammock comprising a frame composed of side and end members, hammock positioning brackets secured at the corners of said frame and having portions extending above the upper face of said frame, a hammock body applied to the lower face of said frame and having upstanding sides and suspension ends, and detachable means for connecting the adjacent portions of said hammock body sides and ends to said corner brackets.

8. A couch hammock comprising in combination a knock-down frame therefor consisting of side and end members having flat upper faces and having oppositely recessed, superposed, meeting ends whereof the overlying ends are in the general plane of the upper surface of said frame, said meeting ends having bolt holes, hammock positioning brackets upstanding from the said meeting ends and each having a single web provided with a bolt hole and applied to one face of said frame, a bolt passlng through each web and adjacent the meeting ends and terminating substantially flush with the lower faces of said side members, and a nut upon said bolt, whereby one of each pair of meeting ends may be tightly clamped between and to said web and the other meeting end, a hammock body applied to said frame, and suspension means therefor.

9. A couch hammock comprising in combination a knock-down frame therefor consisting of side and end members having interengaging meeting ends, the ends of said side members terminating substantially in the vertical plane of the outer edges of said end members, hammock positioning corner brackets upstanding from the corners formed by said meeting ends, a single means for connecting each pair of said meeting ends and for clamping said brackets together, a hammock body applied to said frame, and suspension means therefor.

10. A couch hammock comprising in combination a knock-down frame therefor consisting of side and end members rectangular in cross section and adapted to resist the strain incident to hammock suspension and use, said members having oppositely recessed, superposed, meeting ends, the ends of said side members terminating substantially in the vertical plane of the outer edges of said end members, the upper and lower faces of said frame each lying in a single plane, means securing the meeting ends of said members together but permitting them to be readily detached, said means passing through both of said members but not protruding substantially below the lower face of the frame, and a hammock body applied to the lower face of said frame and to which the lower face of the frame and said securing means present a substantially smooth face, said hammock body being provided with suspension means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER.

Witnesses CHAS M. Sauna, REUBEN M. Bonn. 

